Galvanic Corrosion Prediction and Experiments Assisted by Numerical Analysis

Principles used in the finite element modeling and boundary element modeling methods are explained in this paper. These methods are useful to corrosion engineers in analyzing corrosion cell current distributions. The paper begins with a description of how the current distribution phenomenon is represented by mathematical equations and how these equations can be solved using numerical calculations. A one-dimensional corrosion cell is used to demonstrate the methods. Later, the procedures used in the numerical modeling methods are described. Suggestions are given to corrosion engineers who are interested in using numerical modeling to analyze their corrosion problems. An example of the numerical analysis of galvanic corrosion is given. Factors affecting the accuracy of these methods are discussed.